Recognizing Suffering

I recently read this article by Eric Cassell for a course in medical school. What follows are some reflections on the article (here is another link if the other doesn’t work).

Cassell’s essay on suffering broadened my thoughts on what constitutes suffering. Previously I had thought of suffering in a very visceral sense, mostly related to pain. I did consider emotional pain as well as physical pain to be suffering. This would include grief, the pain of an injury or illness or the loss of a relationship. Cassell’s simple definition of suffering made me realize how limited my view was. He states, “I believe suffering to be the distress brought about by the actual or perceived impending threat to the integrity or continued existence of the whole person.” While this definition is brief, a thorough examination leaves a lot of unpacking to do. And while it includes my previous thoughts on suffering it clearly involves much more.

The key phrase for me in the definition is “whole person.” The idea of the self as more than a physical body allows for suffering to be perceived in a variety of ways. Cassell’s expansion on self-identity clarifies this idea further. He talks about the idea of a person’s past, present and future identity. When I think of someone with a disabling injury, while thinking of their suffering I may have only considered their pain and perhaps the limitation on their activities. With Cassell’s framework I can expand this to understand that this person may be suffering from their loss of identity. The things they were able to do in the past, they may no longer be able to do in the present or the future. Beyond the day to day limitations on daily activity it could also present as a serious threat to a person’s sense of self. An elderly person who gardens for example, may have to accept that due to new limitations they can no longer identify themselves as a gardener. If they are able to find a restricted way to garden they at least have to modify what kind of gardener they understand themselves to be.

Considering suffering that is the result of their own actions may reveal why shame and guilt are such powerful emotions. Perhaps someone has made decisions that threaten their existence or sense of self. Not only are they mourning the suffering caused but they are also mourning the fact that they brought the suffering on themselves.

What I appreciate about this more inclusive definition of suffering is how it helps me be more compassionate. I could see myself brushing off certain things someone may tell me as not that big of a deal, but considered in the “whole person” concept of suffering it becomes a big deal and reveals perhaps why this person thinks it is important to talk to me about it. The idea of a “perceived” threat to self helps us to be more compassionate for psychiatric patients whose threat is not reality. Or for parents with a sick child who jump to the worst conclusions possible. Their perception of the threat to their child may not be reality for a pediatrician, but it is a possible reality in their minds. This allows us to not only be understanding but the take the next step and educate in a compassionate way that acknowledges and addresses their fears.

At times in my clinical experience I have been nervous or shy around someone who was clearly suffering. Thinking about all the different types of suffering allows us to be more creative in alleviating suffering. Instead of being frustrated by not being able to completely relieve pain, we can make effort to alleviate other forms of suffering the pain is causing such as loss of function or stress on relationships. When approaching a patient I think I can ask myself a few simple questions. How is this patient suffering? Is there any possible perceived or actual threat to this person’s self-identity? If I am unable to relieve one kind of suffering, am I able to relieve a less obvious form of suffering in this person? I think addressing these questions in all my patients will make me a more complete and compassionate healer.

2 thoughts on “Recognizing Suffering”

kuzhali you are right man. Both are evils that spoils the eritne Tamil Blogging Community. Now it is for us to decide in the larger interest. Web Freedom is there, even for pshycos but they can do it in a seperate place may be by a joint blog where Dondu and Moorthi can be admins. For the larger interest of the Tamils, Eelam Tamils and and all other Global Tamils, Masochist Dondu has to be removed from thamizmanam. After the removal any topic related to these pshycos should be banned. If we bloggers have freedom to express what we think right and not to express what is not right, then AGGREGATORS certainly has their freedom to allow what can be aggregated or not aggregated, in the largest interest of the Tamil. If banning of someone fuels Freedom of Expression of many in Tamil, we would like to do that. Right? Thamizhmanam should take a bold decision. Normal rules and ethics woulnt be suitable for dealing with pshycos!A long time Thamizhmanam Reader